Railway-track trip.



Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 11v VENTOR. JA MES CuL ro/v.

WITNESSES: x.

OR NE Y.

JAMES CULTON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

RAILWAY-TRACK Tarn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

' Application filed Ju1y20, 1915. Serial No. 40,899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES CtrL'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Track 'ljrips, of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to track appliances of the type used in systems for the auto matic control of the movement of power driven vehicles along a railroad, such as is described in my application for patent Serial No. 833,391, filed April 21, 1914.

The present invention relates more particularly to devices of the character shown and described in my application for patent Serial No. 795,046 filed October 14, 1913, and its primary object resides in'providing in combination with the yieldingly support ed trip rail of a track appliance of the type above mentioned, a spring-0perated block ing mechanism the positions of which are controlled by an electro-magnetic device which is connected in the normally closed line circuit of a railway signaling system.

Thecontrolling device is connected in the circuit with relation to a semaphore fornr ing part of the signaling system, so that when the circuit is opened, the blocking mechanism operates to place the track appliance in operative condition, irrespective of the condition or operation of the signaling instrument.

Another object ofmy invention resides in providing in operative connection with the track appliance, a detonating signaling apparatus which operates each time the track appliance in its effective condition causes the operation of a movement-controlling mechanism on a passing vehicle, and still another object resides in improvements in the mechanical construction of the track appliance, including protective means for. insulating the operating mechanism of the same from dirt, dust and moisture.

In the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, I

"Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the track appliance on a plane designated by the line 1-1, F g. 2,

Fig. 2, a vertical section taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig, 3, a'transverse section along the line 33, Fig. 1 showing the appliance operatively connected with the eleotro-magnetic device which controls the operation of its blocking mechanism;

Fig. 4, a section taken alongthe line 4-4, Fig. 1,

F1 5, a fragmentary elevation of the track appliance showing the detonating signaling apparatus connected therewith,

Fig. 6, a fragmentary plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7, a section taken along the line 7-7, isi Fig. 8, adetail view of the ratchet movement included in the .detonator signaling apparatus shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 9, an enlarged detail view of'the earn included in thc'mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10, a diagrammatic view of a system of track appliances and electrical. connections in association with a railroad and the line circuit of a track signaling-system, and

Figfll, a fragmentary end view of a modified construction of the trip rail of the track appliance and the contact wheel of the operating medium of a locomotive-carried, movement-controlling mechanism riding along the tread thereof.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the track appliance comprises a boxshaped, hollow base 2 covered by a hollow trip-rail 3 which is vertically yieldingly supported upon the bottom surface of the same through the intermediary of coiled springs 4. p

The base is secured upon a foundation 21 of concrete or other suitable material by means of anchor bolts 22 projecting through openings in a flange 23 and provided with nuts 24.

The rail has. in its circumferential wall 7, a narrow recess 5 to receive the upper portion of the corresponding wall 6 of the base, and its upper surface is curved to provide a convex tread 9.

A strip 8 of steel or other resilient material fastened along the lower edges of the movable rail frictionally engages the outer 45 y L I: upright wall 6 of the base and the members faces of the upright wall of the base to protect the operating mechanism within the base against dirt and moisture.

When the rail is free to move downwardly I merit-controlling mechanism on a passing vehicle when riding along the curved tread of the rail, will merely depress the" latter I p which. extend, from the standards loosely without affecting the mechanism with-which it is actuatively associated.

c To produce; this result the operating medium 74 is yieldingly helda'gainst upward vmovement by a spring whose pressure resisting strength slightly exceeds that of the, combined springs upon which the; rail issupported. I r

In the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4

and 7 the: tread of the rail 3 flat to be engaged by a rotary wheel 75 at the lower end of the operating medium hereinloeforev referred .to, which is peripherally sharpened to provide aputting}edgeadapted to penetrate snow, mud or other obstructive matter deposited on, the rail. The same re sult may be'obtaine d, -however,,by making the tread of the'rail a longitudinally ex tending sharp ridge as shown at 76 in the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 11,

in which case the wheel 7.5 ,of the operating medium is peripherally flat.

3 "To place the track appliance in anoper a; tive condition, its rail is blocked against I downward movement whereby to compel ,the

operating medium of the automatic-move ment controlling mechan1sm on a passing vehlcle to ascendv alongits tread to the apex thereof and thereby effect a determinate movement of thesaid mechanism.

r The blocking mechanism conslsts of four blocks 10 which are normally 1 supported uponrests 12 on the inside of the .base in register with alined slots '13 and 1 1 in the '13 and 1 1, byan,electroanagnetic device hereinafter to bedescribed. Toblock the downward movement of the rail, thestopslO are projected into theslots in the base and the rail by the expansion of four springs 15 after the controlling device which normally holds them in their retracted position, has been actuated to release-the ;same. m I

The stops comprised in one of the two pairs "are secured atthe end ofla'bar 16 which at: a central point has a laterally. projecting arm for its pivotal 'connection with the ends oftwo normally alined levers 18 which are .fulcrumed upon the base 19 and a which at the ends of their opposite arms are pivotally "connected-with the stops comslots of the rail for the purpose of blocking the downward movement of the same, are

. disposed between standards 20 on the base.

The springs are coiled around rods 25 through openings in the bar 16 and the levers 18, and they are compressed ready for actionwhirle the blocks are held in their normal retracted position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

.c The electro-magnetic, ,tro-ls' the-positionv of the stops," consists as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, of a solenoid 26 the core 27 of which is by means of an integral angular bar- 28 connected. with thearm 17 of the bar 16. I I v a The core carries at its opposite end a wedge shaped spreader; 7 8 of nonconductive material which normally separates; two resilient contact blades 29 to open aci rcuit in which the latterar'e connected..

A device for locking the core intwo' de terminate positions consists of an electromagnet 30 .the armature" .31" of which 1s operatively connected with two dogs 32 and the end of a lever 36 fulcrumedas at 37',

which. at opposite end. is attached the firstanention-ed dog. v

device which. conadapted to} respectively enter notches 34 A spring 38 applied between the .co

operatively connected dogs and a relatively fixed part, serves to reverse their vposition when the magnet 30 is deenergized.

When the track apphance s in ts normal inoperative condition, the solenoid 26 isin active and the dog 82 is by the attractive force of the-normally active magnet30, held in a position in which itoccupies the notch V 34,01 the solenoid core, I 0

The spreader 78 at theend of the core separates under these conditions, the two contact blades 29 and thereby opens the circuit in whichthey ,areconnected, and the bar 16 and;the leverslS areheld in their normal position by the bar 28 which operatively connects them with the opposite, end of the solenoid core.

The. dog is separated the core until after the magnet is deener'gized, the

spring 38 withdrawsthe'do-g 32 from its notch and at the same time moves theother dog about the fulcrum of its lever to frictionally engage the core.

The cooperative deviceswhich control the blocking mechanism are inclosed in ,a water-tight casing 39 which is embedded in the ground in connection with the base of the track appliance.

H The latter is to this end provided with a sump 40 having a laterally extending box 41 which by means of a drawnut 4:2 is connected with a similar box 43 at the end of the casing 39. i

The angular bar 28 extends through alincd bores in the two boxes which if so desired may be provided with packing rings for'the usual purpose.

The solenoid 26 and the magnet 30 are connected in independent circuits the flow of current through which is controlled by a relay it connected in the normally closed line circuit of a railway track signaling system.

The last-mentioned circuit which as shown in Fig. 10, usually includes the rails of a railroad track, is designated in Fig. 3 by the lines 44 and 45 and the conductors which connect the coil of the relay in the circuit, by the lines 47 and 48.

The solenoid circuit includescommencing at the source of electricity L9, a conductor 50, the windings of the solenoid coil, a conductor 51, the two contact blades 29, a pair of insulated contact pieces 52 which normally are engaged by the armature of the relay, and a conductor 53 which connects with the opposite pole of the source.

The circuit of the electro-magnet 30 ineludes commencing at a source of electricity 5% of less electro-moti've force than the source of the solenoid circuit, a conductor 55, the windings of the magnet coil, a conductor 56, a pair of insulated contact pieces 58 which are normally engaged by the armature of the relay, and a. conductor 59' which connects with the opposite pole of the source 54L.

hen the line circuit is in its normal, closed condition and the semaphores of the signaling system are set at safety, the relay 46 is energized thereby closing the magnet and solenoid-circuits by the engagement of its armature with the contact pieces 52 and 58.

The dog 32 occupying the notch 34 of the solenoid core is as hcreinbet'ore explained, held in place against the action of its spring 38 by the tit active force of the magnet and the core is in consequence locked in, the position in which it holds the stops of theblockmg mechanism in their retracted position against the action of the springs 15, and in which the spreader 7 8 is positioned between the contact blades 29 to open the solenoid circuit at that point.

Now, when for the purpose of reversing the semaphores to a position indicative of danger, the line circuit is opened, or in case it is accidentally broken as for example by a break in the rail which constitutes one of its conductors, the relay is deenergized thereby opening the solenoidand magnet-circuits by separating its armature from the contact pieces 52 and 58. The consequent demagnetization of the elcctro-magnet 30 compels the spring 38 to move the lever 36 about its fulcrum whereby the dog 32 is withdrawn from the notch 341-. in the solenoid core and the dog 33 is moved into engagement with the surface of the same to enter the notch when by longitudinal movement of the core it is brought in register therewith.

The witlulrawal of the dog 32 from the respective notch in the core, releases the blocking mechanism of the track appliance and thereby permits the normally compressed springs 15 to impel the stops ontwardly through the slots in the wall of the base and into the correspomling slots of the rail, thereby placing the track appliance in an operative condition by blocking the downward movement of the rail as hereinbe't'ore explained.

The longitudinal movement of the sole noid core by action oi the springs 15 is terminated when the dog 33 which was held in frictional contact with its surface by the spring 38, enters the notch 35 and the parts thus remain in their adjusted position until the line circuit is again closed to return the semaphore to a position of safety. When this occurs. the relay is again energized and moves its armature into engagement with the contact pieces 52 and 58, thereby closing the circuits of the solenoid and the electromagnet 30.

Inasmuch as during movement of the core by the springs 15 of the track appliance, the spreader 78 was removed from its position between the contact blades 29, the solenoid circuit is closed at that point with the result that when the circuit is subsequently closed in the relay, the solenoid is energized. The magnet 30 being likewise energized by the closing of its circuit in the relay, moves the dog 33 out of the notch it occupied leaving the core oi the now active solenoid free. to be attracted to its original position until its moven'icnt' is arrested by the dog 32 entering the notch 84- and a synchronous openiug of the solenoid circuit when the spreader separates the contact blades.

The inward movement of the core of the solenoid effected by the How of current through the coil of the same, withdraws the stops from the openings in the rail and recompresses the springs 15 in which condition the parts are locked by the magnet 80 as soon as the dog 32 has entered the respective notch in the core.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 10, a series of track appliances (30 are by the above described method, operatively connected in the line circuit through the medium of one relay which controls the flow of current through two circuits in which all the solenoids and all the electr'o m'agnets of the track appliances are connected.

The series of track appliances are provided to cooperatively actuate a movementcontrolling mechanism of the type shown and described in my application for patent N 0. 40,898, filed synchronously with the present one. They are placed at substantially equal distances apart ahead of one of the semaphores 61 of the signaling system'with relation to the direction'in which trains or other vehicles equipped with the movement controlling mechanism travel along the railroad, and the relay is connectedin the line circuit of the signaling system at a point between its source and the point of its connection with the semaphore so that even though the connections of the semaphore in the line circuit are broken, or the operating mechanism of the semaphore is in an inoperative condition, the relay will be deepergized when the normally closed line circuit is opened.

The detonator signaling apparatus used in connection with the track appliance comprises an endless band composed of a pair of sprocket chains 62 which are mounted upon wheels 63 rotatably supported inbearings 6st erected upon the exterior flange of the base of the track appliance.

The chains are at equidistant points, connected by detonators 65 of the type commonly used on railroads.

One of the steps 10 of the blocking mechanism of the track appliance is connected to the bar 16 0f the same by means of a flexible shank 66 which permits of its up and downward deflection.

The band on which the detonators are carrier is mounted in a position with relation to the triprai1 so that its upper portion moves between the resilient stop in its projected: position and an anvil 67 installed adjacent the track instrument in vertical alinement with the stop.

The detonators on the band are fed into the spacebetween the stop and the anvil by a gravity pawl 68 which engages" the teeth of a ratchet wheel 69 mounted upon the shaft of one of the sets of sprocket wheels upon which the chains 62 are supported.

The railot the track appliance in an effective condition has suflicient play to pen,

mit of .a limited downward movement by M which the pawl is advanced along the toothed periphery of the ratchet Wheel. hen subsequent to a limited downward movement of the rail,- it is returned'to its original position by the expansion of the springs 4:, the pawl interlocking with a tooth of the ratchet wheel rotates the therewith connected sprocket wheel through a determinate angle and thereby advances the chain in the direction of the-arrow A in Fig. "5;

nae-1 5 712 During downward movemc'nt of the rail when the blocking mechanism is in its operative condition, the stop 10 which is connected with the bar 16 by the resilient shank 66, is compelled toforcibly engage'the detonator disposed above the anvil and thereby explodes the same. I w

To prevent the feed movement of the detonator band during the extended downward movement of the rail when the track appliance is in its ineflective condition,- the pawl (38 isprovided with a wrist 70 which extends into a slot of a cam 71 attached to the adjacent standard 64 upon which the sprocket wheels otthe detonator apparatus are rotatably supported.

The camslot is pear-shaped and has at its upper and lower ends, leaf-springs 72 which prevent return movement of the wrist past the points'at which they are located. Then by downward movement of the rail the wrist is moved pastthe spring at the lower end of the canrslot it is compelled to travel duringreturn movement of the rail, through the opposite side of the slot and thus moves free from engagement with the ratchet wheel until after it has passed the spring at the upper end of the slot, it reassumes by gravity its original position.

It w'il'lbe observed that to project the resilient stop beyond the outer surface of the rail a distance suflicient to cause'it to engage the detonator during downward movement of the same, it'is necessary that while the blocking mechanism is in its inoperative condition, the stop extends partially into the respective slot of the rail.

The flexible shank which connects the stop with the bar 16 permits it to deflect during downward motion of the rail and thereby prevent its obstructing the movement of the same.

It will be seen that the stops 10 when the blocking mechanism is in its operative condition, not only obstruct the downward movement of the trip rail, but also look the same against upward displacement by their position within the slots 1 While I have shown and described the cooperative mechanical and electrical devices comprised in my invention in the best and simplest form atpresent known to me, I desire it understood that variations in the construction, form and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the. spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims:

1. A track appliance of the character described comprising a base, a trip-rail yieldably mounted thereon, spring operated means for blocking the movement of the rail, a device for retracting said means to an inoperative position, and a device cooperative with the first-mentioned device to hold the said means in the retracted position.

2'. A track appliance of the character described comprising a base, a trip-rail yieldably mounted thereon, springoperated means for blocking the movement o'fthe rail, an; electric device for retracting said means to' an inoperative position, and an electric circuit, controlling the circuits of tlie-solei nold and the said electro-magnetic device.

4. A track appliance of the character-described comprising a base, a trip-rail yieldably mounted thereon, spring operated means for blocking the movement of the rail, a circuit, a solenoid for retracting the said means to an inoperative position, in said circuit, a second circuit, an electro-magnetic device for locking the core of the solenoid in a determinate position, in said second circuit,a relay controlling the circuits of the solenoid andthe said electro-magnetic de-;

vice, and a circuit-breaker in the solenoidc1rcu1t, operated by action 01' the solenoid core.

A track appliance of the character de scribed comprising a base, a trip-rail yieldably mounted thereon, springoperated means forblocking the movement of the rail, a circuit including a solenoid for retracting'the said means to an inoperative position, a second circuit, an electro-magnetic device for locking the solenoid core in a determinate position, in said second circuit, a relay adapted to close breaks in the circuits of the solenoid and the magnet, and a circuit breaker operated by action of the solenoid-core, normally breaking the solenoid circuit.

6. A track appliance of the character described comprising a hollow base, a trip-rail yieldingly mounted on said base, spring-actuated mechanism for blocking the movement of the rail, including a pair of levers fulcrumed in the base, stops operatively connected with said levers to be moved synchronously to points in the path of said rail, springs for effecting the said movement of the stops, and means connected with said levers for holding them in a position in which the stops are in a retracted position. i 7. A track appliance of the character described comprising a hollow base, a trip-rail yieldably mounted thereon, mechanism within the base for blocking the movement otthe rail, means for effecting a water-tight connection between the base and the rail, devices controlling the operation of said mechanism, and a casing inelosing said devices, in water-tight connection with the base. i

S. A track appliance of the character described comprising a hollow base-member, a rail-member yieldably mounted thereon, mechanism within the base-member for blocking the movement oi. the rail-member, and a strip of resilient metal connectedwith one of said nicmbi'irs in frictional contact with the other member, for eil'ecting a watertight connection between the members.

9. The combination with a track-applh ance of the character described, including a trip member to ell'ert an operative moven'icnt of an element brought ineontact therewith, of a detonator signal apparatus associated with said tripmember to operate synchronously therewith.

10. The combinat on with a track-appliance of the character described, including a trip-member to effect an operative movement o'lian element brought in contact; therewith, of a detonator signal apparatus associated with said trip member to operate synchronously therewith, and including a series of detonators, and means for feeding said detonators to an operative position by action of said member.

11. A track-element of the character described comprising a base, a rail yieldably mounted thereon, an anvil. mechanism for limiting the movement of the rail, including a projectable part, and a detonator signal. appliance For inter-posing a detonator between the said part and thesaid anvil.

12. A track element of the character described comprising a base, a rail yieldably mounted thereon, an anvil, mechanism for limiting the movement of the rail, including a projectable part, a cletonatorsignal apparatus carrying a series of detonators, and cooperative means on the rail and the said appliance for feeding the said detonators to an operative position between the said part and the said anvil.

13. A track element of the character described comprising a base, a rail yieldably mounted thereon, an anvil, mechanism for limiting the movement of the rail, including a projectable part, a detonator signalapparatus carrying a series of detonators, cooperative means on the rail and the said appliance for feeding the said detonators to an operative position between the said part and the said anvil, and a device for rendering said means inoperative during a yielding movement of the rail while the said mechanism is in an inoperative condition.

14:. A track element of the character described, comprising a base, a rail yieldably mounted thereon, an anvil, mechanism for limiting the movement of the rail, including a projectable part, a detonator signal apparatuszcomprising a movably mounted endless belt carrying equidistant detonators and passing between the said I part and the said anvil when the said part is in its projected )osition, a ratchet-wheel in driving connection with said belt, and a pawl on the rail inoperative engagement with said sprocket wheel.

15. A track element of the character clescribed, comprising a base, a rail yieldably mounted thereon, an anvil, mechanism for limiting the movement of the rail, including api'ojectable part, a detonator signal apparatus comprising a movably mountedendless belt carrying equidistant detonators and ;)assing between the said part and the said anvil when the said part is in its projected position, a ratchet Wheel in driving connection With said belt, a pawl on the rail in operative engagement with said sprocket wheel, and means for separating the pawlfrom the sprocket wheeli during yielding movement of the rail While the said mechanism is in an inoperative condition.

16] The combination with the line circuit of a railway block signaling system, of, a track appliance including mechanism for placingit in anoperative condition, an. electric device controlling saidmechanism, and

a relay controlling the circuit of'said device and connected in the line circuit.

17. The combination Withtheline circuit of a railway block signaling system, of a track appliance including mechanismfor placing it in an operative condition, an electric dey vice controlling said mechanism and a relay controlling the circuit of said device and connected in theline circuit,

18. The-combination with the line circuit 'ot a railway block-signalingsystem, of a series of track appliances each including mechanism for placing them in anoperative condition and an electric'device controlling.

said mechanism, and a relay controlling the devices and connected n circuits of the said the line circuit.

19. A track appliance of the character de-i scribed comprising a base including anup tion, a circuit, an electric apparatus connected therein and adapted to move'sa'id. appliance to an inoperative position against the action ofits said impellent means, said impel said appliance to its blocking posi-- apparatus including a device't'or locking the appliance in its said inoperative condition, I

and a circuit-breaker interrupting the circuit hile the appliance is in its inoperativecondition and closing the same by its movement toits operative position When released. r a 4 1 21. In combination, a yieldably held trip,

an appliance adapted to block yielding. movement thereof, normally active means toimpel said applianceto its blocking position, a circuit, an electric apparatus connected therein and adapted to movesaid appliance to an inoperative position against.

the action of its said impellent means, said apparatus including an electrical device for locking theappliance in its said inoperative condition, and a circuit-breaker interrupting the circuit While the appliance is in its,

inoperative condition and Iclosingthe same by itsv movement to its operative position When-released;

lintestimony whereof 'I have affixed my signature in presence of tWOWItHGSSGS.

Witnesses G; J; RoLLANDn'r, F. H; GUNo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for-five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of fatents;

" WashingtonJLG. 1 r

so i

JAMES CULTON; v 

